Titan Wrestling Season Up Ahead

Singing of the star spangled banner. Groom check. Time to wrestle, whistle blows. First-time wrestlers with excitement and fear on their faces. Will they become a wrestler or just like to wrestle? The matches today, win or lose, will build them for a better tomorrow on and off the mat. Building champions on and off the mat is one of many goals for the coaches of Grand Terrace High School's Titan wrestling. Taking home the third place trophy at Hemet's junior varsity dual tournament and six individual medals was just the start of the season in November. Now with two non-league dual matches, with Indian Springs and Chaffey high schools and three tournaments, Carter, Citrus Hills and Colton Christmas Classic, later, titan wrestling is on the road to yet another successful season. Coach Rocky Martinez shares his long-term goal, to "Equip these kids with the tools and confidence needed to be better wrestlers and most importantly mature young adults." First-time heavy weight wrestler, Anthony Vargas, a sophomore, who has placed and taken home medals in each tournament has a personal goal of improving each week and bumping up in the placing at upcoming tournaments and to keep working hard to make it to CIF and Masters. Vargas attributes his success to Coach Albert Freeman who has helped him out personally during wrestling matches, along with seasoned wrestler Andrew Mena, who has shared moves and techniques. When asked about placing goals for the wrestlers, Coach Albert Freeman says to the young athletes, "Believe in yourselves and set goals high, keep moving, be better than you were yesterday and let the hard work speak for itself." With all the hard work yet still ahead to get through the season it will be a road full of pins and take-downs. Wishing all wrestlers and there families a great season.